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Impact of COVID-19 on the Distribution of Pathogenic Bacteria in the Lower Respiratory Tract of the Elderly
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  • Shiyan Zhang,
  • Jing Shi,
  • Ying Zhuo,
  • Tingqiang Wang
Shiyan Zhang
Affiliated Fuding Hospital, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Jing Shi
Affiliated Fuding Hospital, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
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Ying Zhuo
Affiliated Fuding Hospital, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
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Tingqiang Wang
Affiliated Fuding Hospital, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
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Abstract

Background: To investigate the distribution of bacterial pathogens of lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in hospitalized elderly patients during the COVID-19 epidemic and to explore the influence of COVID-19 on the distribution of bacterial pathogens, in order to provide guidance for clinical diagnosis. Methods: Specimens of sputum from elderly LRTIs patients at Fuding Hospital of China were collected from October 2022 to January 2023. Cultures and identification were done, and RT-PCR was employed to detect SARS-Cov-2 nucleic acid. Results: A total of 195 isolates were characterized in 163 sputum samples of consecutive hospitalized elderly patients, of which 11.3% were Gram-positive bacteria and 88.7% Gram-negative. The top of frequently isolated pathogens were Klebsiella pneumonia (30.3%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (19.0%), Acinetobacter baumannii (12.8%), Stenotrophomonas maltophili, (7.7%), Escherichia coli (7.2%). According to the results of novel coronavirus nucleic acid detection, the 163 patients were divided into COVID-19 group and non-COVID control (CNT) group. The comparison of bacterial distribution between the groups revealed that Stenotrophomonas maltophilia was lower in the COVID-19 than in the CNT group, while Acinetobacter baumannii was higher in the COVID-19 group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The major bacteria identified in sputum culture of hospitalized elderly patients were Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, and Escherichia coli. Furthermore, the distribution of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Acinetobacter baumannii between the COVID-19 and CNT groups was found to be significantly different (P< 0.05), while there were no significant differences in the distribution of other bacteria.
28 Mar 2023Submitted to Immunity, Inflammation and Disease
28 Mar 2023Submission Checks Completed
28 Mar 2023Assigned to Editor
28 Mar 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
05 Apr 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
25 Apr 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Major
15 Jun 20231st Revision Received
20 Jun 2023Submission Checks Completed
20 Jun 2023Assigned to Editor
20 Jun 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
20 Jun 2023Editorial Decision: Accept
Jul 2023Published in Immunity, Inflammation and Disease volume 11 issue 7. https://doi.org/10.1002/iid3.931